Connector clip



` w. T. KOEHLINGER May l2, 1953 CONNECTOR CLIP Filed Feb. 28, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. T. KOEHLINGER CONNECTOR CLIP May 12, '1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1948 Patented May 1,2, 1953 CONNECTOR CLD? William T. Koehlinger, KalamazomMich., as-

signor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 28, 1948, Serial No. 12,012

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to window sash assemblies and more particularly to metal sash or frames embodying improved principles of design and construction.

An important object of the invention is to provide a sash of Which the stiles and rails thereof are each comprised of a base member and a`cover member, the members being designed and constructed to support and clamp either a glass, screen, or other desirable sheet material therebetween.

A particular object of the invention is to provide each of the base members with Walls to form a longitudinal guideway which slidably supports connectors of a character to receive screws extending through holes provided therefor in the cover member whereby to detachably secure the members together, said connectors also providing means whereby a handle or some other device may be attached to the sash.

Another important object of the invention is to design and construct a novel resilient connector which is readily attachable to the base member by inserting either extremity of the connector into either end of the longitudinal guideway or by pressing the 'same broadside into the guideway to a snap locking position, after which the connector may be manually moved and frictionally held at any location desired to receive a screw extending through the cover member.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a connector of such a character that at least a. portion thereof will be placed under tension when the cover member is anchored down against the base member by the screws, the purpose of which is 'to prevent accidental loosening of the screws as well las vibration between such members.

Another object of the invention is to provide the base member with inner and outer formations which serve as reenforcements to impart rigidity to such member, the inner formation being fashioned -to provide a groove or `grooves for the reception of means for attaching a screen to the sash or a gasket for glass or other material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel fastener which acts in the dual capacity of either pressing one of the sashes in its normal position against an abutment of a supporting frame to lock the sash in the frame or as a safety means for mounting the frame in a window,

structure. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel sash assembly comprised of parts which can be economically manufactured :and assembled together on a production basis.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent after the description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction with the drawing annexed hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational View of the sembly embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l, illustrating a portion of a window sash and the way it is mounted with respect to -a window structure;

Figure 3 is a transverse enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially on vthe line 3--3 of Figure 1, depicting constructional details of a screen sash and its relation to the window sash;

Figure 4 is a transverse enlarged section taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 1, showlng the screen sash and the Way it is mounted with respect to the window structure;

Figure 5 is a sectional enlarged View taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 1, illustrating a Asafety catch embodying improved principles of design and construction;

`Figure 6 is a perspective View, on an enlarged scale, of one of the connectors employed to attach members of the sashes together; land Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view illus- -trating a portion of one of the base members aluminum or other material suitable for the pur` pose. It is substantially of uniform thickness, and adapted to be secured in a vertical position in an opening 4 relative to a stop 5 provided on a window structure 6.

The horizontal top and bottom members l and 8, and vertical side members 9 of the sashsupporting frame are preferably of channel shape. The top member 'l is provided with an integral inner depending flange ill and the bottom member 3 with an inner upturned flange ll. These flanges provide abutments for the sashes. The depending flange Hl also serves to prevent the entry of rain, snow, and other foreign matter in between the upper window sash and the frame.

A plurality of holding means are carried by the supporting frame for pressing and detachably` holding the sashes and frame assembled. Such means preferably include a pair of fasteners i2 secured adjacent the upper corners of the frame. Each fastener includes tab portions i3 through which screws of rivets I4 pass into` the frame, and an intermediate offset portion l5 provided with an integral finger I5 depending in spaced relation to the upper window sash. The free extremity of each finger is formed with a curved or bowed portion l1, which engages the window sash and when it is being raised in the supporting frame more or less pilots the sash into place.

A second pair of fasteners i8 are secured to the side members 9 of the frame adjacent to the parting line between the sashes, and each includes a tab portion i9 for attaching the fastener to the frame and an oiset portion 2S formed with a pair of aligned upright and depending yieldable leg portions 2| and 22. The free ends of the leg portions are formed with curved or bowed portions 23, which respectively bear against the window and screen sashes. These fasteners are so located that the lower screen sash may be swung inwardly as illustrated in Figure 5, with out damaging the depending leg portions 22 of the fasteners. It will be noted that with this arrangement the window sash may be readily removed from the frame when lowered to the position formerly occupied by the screen sash.

A third pair of adjustable fasteners or catches are secured adjacent to the lower corners of the sash frame, and these are operable to one position t lock the sashes in the frame and to another position to permit the removal of the sashes or to hold the lower sash 2 in Ventilating position. Each of these fasteners or catches includes a plate 24 secured to the framek by rivets or screws 25 and by a pair of headed pins 26 disposed in slots 21 formed in the upper marginal edgeof plate 24 so that the heads overlie the plate. Each plate is provided with an integral upwardly extending spring tongue 28 which projects through a rectangular opening 29 provided therefor in a catch lever 30. The free end of the spring tongue is provided with an inturned portion 3l to hold the lever associated with the plate 24. It will be noted that the inner end of each lever and a marginal edge of the opening thereinare respectively bevelled as indicated at 32 and 3.55 and that its outer extremity is provided with a pair of curved portions 34 and 135 and a flat rest portion 36 therebetween. The arrangement is such that the screen sash may be pulled inwardly by a handle 3l to the full line Ventilating, position illustrated in Figure so that the sash is seated on the rest portion 36 and held in place by the curved portions 34 and 35. The spring tongue is so designed and constructed that it bears against the bevelled edge 33 of the opening tn force the bevelled end 32 of the lever against the plate 24 to maintain the lever in suchfull line position. The levers may be swung upwardly by grasping the curved portions 35, which serve as handles, to lift the sash into the frame so that the tongues will act to press the curved portions 34 of the levers against the sash as illustrated by the dotted line position in Figure 5. These fasteners or catches also serve to catch or arrest the falling out of the lower sash in the event it is inadvertently bumped inwardly.

Various means may be employed to mount the sash supporting frame 3 in the window structure opening il, but as herein illustrated such means preferably includes, among other things, a channel fitting 38 adjustable in the tcp channel meniber l of the frame. This fitting is attached to the header portion of the window structure by screws 39 and also by a strip dii, the latter also being secured to the header by screws di. An-

y other channel tting d3, adjustable in the bottom member 8 of the frame, rests on the inclined sill portion 42 of the window structure. This arrangement has proven desirable in practice because the complete assembly comprising the sashes and frame may be easily and quickly installed and adjusted in the window structure to the position desired, even though the height of the opening in such structure may be somewhat in excess of the overall length of the frame. In other words, the mounting means is of such a character that the sash supporting frame may be fitted into window structures in which the height of the openings therein may vary. With this arrangement, the general appearance of the complete set-up is enhanced.

The window and screen sashes, except for a few minor structural differences are identical. The window sash includes upper and lower rails or members lill and 45 and stiles or members 126, and the screen sash similarly includes upper and lower rails 4l and 48 and stiles 49. The lower rail d5 of the window sash is preferably provided with an integral depending lip portion 5i) which overlies the outer surface of the upper rail il of the screen sash to exclude rain, snow and any foreign matter from entering between such rails. rThe lower rail it of the screen sash may be provided with. an integral inclined portion 5i, which overhangs the upturned flange l l on the bottom member 8 of the sash supporting frame 3 to deect and exclude any of the elements above referred to from entering between such lower rail and such bottom member.

The rails and stiles of the sashes are each comprised of a base member and a cover member. Figure 7 illustrates one of the Stiles, and it will be apparent that, except for the lip and inclined portions 5@ and 5l on the lower rails of the window and screen sashes, respectively, the base members 52 are all identical and, therefore, a description of one will be sufficient. The cover members 53 associated with the base members of the window sash are slightly different from the cover members 5t associated with the portion. The outer longitudinal extremities of the guide walls 59 and 60 are preferably formed with oppositely disposed inturned portions 63, parallel to the base portion, and spaced apart to provide an entranceway 64 through which the connectors 52 may be projected and the screws inserted into the connectors. These inturned portions assist in holding the connectors in the guideway and also serve as lands for the cover. The outer wall 56 is preferably provided with an inset portion 65, parallel to the base, to form an additional land for the cover. yMore specically in this respect, the outer surfaces of the lands are arranged in the same plane to provide substantial support for the cover, and so that its outer planar face is lush with the outer edge surface 66 of the outer wall. The outer wall 55 and adjacent guide wall 60 are constructed to provide a channel formation 61. The inner wall 51 and wall 58 are substantially identical and of a height somewhat less than that of the other walls. The walls 51 and 58 are designed and constructed to provide a slot 68 and the guide wall 59 and Wall 58 a groove 69 adjacent to slot 68.

This arrangement imparts stability to ,the base member, particularly adjacent its inner longitudinal extremity which provides a support for the glass, screen r other material which will now be described. As exemplied in Figure 2, the edge of the glass 18 is provided with a gasket 'il of rubber or other yieldable material, and when the cover 53 is tightly secured in place portions of the gasket will be forced against the walls 51 and 58 which form lands and also into the slot 68 and groove 69 and against the guide wall 59 to provide a iirm yet yieldable seal and mounting for the glass. It will be noted that a portion of the gasket is interposed between the glass and the cover 53, and that the size of the rabbet formed by the guide wall 59 and Walls 51 and 58, and the thickness of the glass and gasket are so proportioned that the gasket will be properly distorted or compressed when the cover is forced against the lands above referred to so as to provide not only a good clamping action but present a trim appearance to the sash generally.

Attention is directed to .the fact that the cover 53 is preferably provided with an integral rib portion 12 which projects into the channel formation 61 to strengthen the structure.

The connectors 62 employed to assist in securing the cover member to the base member are of a novel character, and as clearly illustrated in Figure 6, each is preferably of spring steel andof channel construction having a bottom wall.13 and side Walls 14. The central portion of the bottom Wall is provided with inturned yieldable portions 15, the free ends of which are formed with semi-circular notches 16 to provide an opening for the threaded end of a screw 11. The outer ends of the bottom wall are provided with inclined tongue portions 18.

The side walls of the connector are preferably arranged in a converging relationship and the free longitudinal edge portions may be slightly inturned as at 19. The opposite ends of the side Walls are provided with yieldable locking fingers 8U formed by the interruptions or notches 8l.

Each connector is preferably designed and constructed for broadside entry into the guideway 6|. To insert the connector into such guideway it is directed to a position in which the `inturned portions 19 on the side walls 14 of the connector engage the inturned `portions 63` on the guide walls 59 and 60, whereupon the connector is pressed downwardly `into the guideway causing the `locking iingers to yield and when `the ends of the fingers pass beyond the inturned portions 63, such ngers will automatically snap or ex outwardly, and catch behind portions 63 to lock the connector in the guideway. It may then be moved to any longitudinal position desired so that the opening dened by the semi-circular notches will receive the threaded end ofthe screw 11. With this set-up the screw when tightened will cause the inturned portions 15'on the bottom wall to react and serve to resist the screw from loosening. Also assisting in this respect, are the tongue portions 18 which are depressed when the cover is secured in place.

Attention is directed to the fact that the various parts are so constructed and arranged that either end of the connector may be inserted into either end of the guideway 6| by merely contracting the locking ngers. It is to be understood, of course, that such end insertion would be completed before the stiles and rails or members of the sashes are connected together.

Attention is also directed to the fact that the handle 31, above referred to, is attached to the lower rail of the screen sash by screws passing through the ends of the handle and through the cover 54 into the connectors.

The covers 54 associated with the base members 52 of the screen sash, as alluded to above, are slightly different from the covers 53 forming component parts of the window sash. Each of the covers 54 is substantially planar in character and provided with a right angled wall portion 82 adjacent its inner longitudinal edge which is adapted to lie in the same plane as the Wall portion 51 on the base member when the cover is secured in place. The screen is adapted to be anchored adjacent its marginal edges, to the sash by attaching means preferably in the form of a single Wire 83 provided with corresponding undulations disposed in the interstices of the screen. Certain of the undula'tions are seated in the slot 68 of the base member, while other undulations are arranged in back of the wall 82 on the cover. With this arrangement, the screen is securely detachably locked in place. It will also be evident that the slot 68 serves to retain the attaching means in place in one instance and at least receive a portion of the gasket 1| in another instance.

It may be noted that the glass pane or screen may be readily replaced in the event the glass becomes broken or the screen is torn, as it is only necessary to detach the screws and the cover members 53 or 54 of the metal frame to remove the broken glass pane or torn screen and thereafter, upon the ready insertion of a new pane or screen within the frame, to attach the screws and cover members to the frame.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be apparent that improved principles of design and construction have been embodied in sash construction With means for mounting the same, and although the preferred form of the invention is exemplied, it is, of course, obvious that the structure may be varied or modified in different respects without departing from the true spirit of the invention, as dened in the claim.

I claim:

A connector clip for a window type frame comprising a channel-shaped structure having a bot '7 tom Welland spaced, generally convergent side Walls; a; yptir of 'inturnetL opposed, yieldable, thread-engaging fingers in said bottom Wall; oppositely directed, resilient tongue portions formed at each end of the bottom wall; and yeldable locking-tabs formed from the side Walls at the terminal and base ends of said side walls.

' WILLAM T. KO'EHLINGER.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Murnane Nov. 13,. 1917 Number Number 8 Name Date Wolf July 26, 1927 Lane Nov. 24, 1931 Geiger Jan. 31, 1933 Sharp Dec. 7, 1937 Dahnert June 28, 1938 Andersson July 23, 1940 Tinnerm'an July 23, 19410 Cotter Oct. 14, 1941 Brt June 16, 1942 Wiley Sept. 28, 1943 

